The Red Sox sent off David Price in a trade and, even if he has escaped Tommy John surgery for the time being, Chris Sale‘s health is definitely a question mark. In light of that, Boston could really use some pitching depth. In light of that, they just announced that they have signed righty Collin McHugh to a one-year contract.

McHugh’s 2019 season with the Astros was cut short due to elbow problems. He ended last season with a 4.70 ERA and an 82/30 K/BB ratio in 74.2 innings spread out between eight starts and 27 relief appearances. He was better in his relief appearances than in his early-season starts. He was more regularly a starter between 2014 and 2017. In that span McHugh had a 3.70 ERA in 606.1 innings of work. He spent all of 2018 in the pen. He’s been pretty good, historically, at not giving up hard contact and at maintaining a pretty good K/BB ratio.

McHugh is certainly no sure thing given the state of his elbow, but he’s a reinforcement for a depleted Red Sox rotation.

Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that Oakland Athletics owner John Fisher has reversed course and will continue to pay minor leaguers. Fisher tells Slusser, “I concluded I made a mistake.” He said he is also setting up an assistance fund for furloughed employees.

The A’s decided in late May to stop paying paying minor leaguers as of June 1, which was the earliest date on which any club could do so after an MLB-wide agreement to pay minor leaguers through May 31 expired. In the event, the A’s were the only team to stop paying the $400/week stipends to players before the end of June. Some teams, notable the Royals and Twins, promised to keep the payments up through August 31, which is when the minor league season would’ve ended. The Washington Nationals decided to lop off $100 of the stipends last week but, after a day’s worth of blowback from the media and fans, reversed course themselves.

An @sfchronicle exclusive: A's owner John Fisher reverses course, apologizes: team will pay minor-leaguers; "I concluded I made a mistake," he tells me. He's also setting up an assistance fund for furloughed employees: https://t.co/8HUBkFAaBx)